The computer moron has another question

lookout123 · 01-10-2005, 10:43 AM

I am going to replace my home computer in the next month or so and thought i would delve into the depths of knowledge known as the cellar.

I don't use my computer for much. just email, pulling photos from my camera to send to the inlaws, a little surfing, visiting the cellar, and the occasional word processing. i don't game at all, don't care about having the newest and best (as i wouldn't recognize it anyway)
I use Moz for all of my normal stuff, my wife has to use IE for her real estate business, so an effective popup blocker would be good. i do want to be able burn cd's and that is about it.

what do i need? i don't want to be a schmo and have the salesman sell me crap i don't need. so i'm looking for a basic out of the box setup that has what i need, without all the crap that is necessary to you all, but just shiny stuff to me. oh, and what should i pay? ballpark figures of course.

Radar · 01-10-2005, 10:45 AM

http://www.gotapex.com

Beestie · 01-10-2005, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar

http://www.gotapex.com

The default CD on this one is a read-only. Don't forget to upgrade to a read-write.

You might also consider a DVD player so you can play DVDs on the computer (games/movies/education software).

Undertoad · 01-10-2005, 11:26 AM

The cost of adding a DVD writer is now less than $100. Or should be - the street price for the cheapest of them is under $50.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-10-2005, 09:49 PM

Excellent free pop up blocker from panicware.

Troubleshooter · 01-10-2005, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Excellent free pop up blocker from panicware.

Stick with Firefox and you won't have to add another program at all.

Anytime you can avoid adding stuff pays off in the long run.

404Error · 01-10-2005, 10:36 PM

I just bought the Dell Dimension 3000 for my parents for Christmas. They use the computer for the same reasons as you, Lookout. I did upgrade to the rewriter CD drive for them also. I did some homework when looking for a new computer for them and I think that was about as good a deal as you're going to find for what you need it for.

Oh, and there's plenty of free pop up stoppers out there for the taking!

richlevy · 01-10-2005, 10:53 PM

Well, I got the grandaddy of all cheap computers, a Compaq 1200NX with a CD burner, 40 gig drive, and 256 MB of memory. Without a monitor this cost me $199.

Of course you have to spend $40 for another 256MB of memory to support a virus scanner and firewall.

This baby has 4 cards slots for compactflash, smartmedia, SD, and MS cards, and fireware and USB ports.

It already has an NIC card for LAN/Internet.

And it had an AGP slot for my video card.

tw · 01-11-2005, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookout123

I am going to replace my home computer in the next month or so and thought i would delve into the depths of knowledge known as the cellar.

Keep the desktop. Supplement it with a laptop. Use the desktop as a fixed workstation, a data backup archive, and for other hardware features.

Laptop should have no floppy. It should have a CD-ROM minimum - preferrably a DVD-RW. A wireless card providing 802.11B and G. A network port. Conventional modem. USB. 80 Gb disk minimum. 512 memory installed all on only one SIMM - so that the second SIMM slot is available for a future upgrade (some laptops provided 512 by using the spare SIMM slot for two 256Mb).

To print, backup files, etc, the connection to desktop can be wireless or hardwire. IOW the laptop can be used adjacent to the desktop or in another room. Floppy diskette is also accessed via desktop machine.

Internet access also can either be via the wireless router or via ICS and the desktop. Numerous advantages to this.

Laptop should include that 'rubber eraser' to act as a mouse. It tends to be faster than the touch plate. But where the laptop is mostly used, a USB type mouse can be used. IOW when the laptop goes mobile, the mouse stays at the usual laptop workspot. Laptop can use any of the many nice mice sold by Logitech. One that looks like a stick to others with trackballs, and the conventional mouse that instead uses optics. All are better than the old style rolling ball mouse. IOW when the laptop is used in its usual work area, then a better mouse makes laptop easier to use.

Troubleshooter · 01-11-2005, 02:01 PM

And don't forget the pen drive.

jaguar · 01-11-2005, 05:10 PM

Solution
or for an all-in-one package for not much more try this
No Spyware
No Virii
Quality Components
No continual flow of shitty OS bugs and security flaws.
Seamless Updating
Perfect set of software.
Best UI around.
Comes with CD burner standard, DVD burner for +$100

lookout123 · 01-11-2005, 08:07 PM

hi jag - how the hell are you?

jaguar · 01-12-2005, 04:10 PM

Busy, but keeping half an eye on this place.
Now, go buy a mac, you'll thank me later.

01-10-2005, 10:43 AM	#1
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	The computer moron has another question I am going to replace my home computer in the next month or so and thought i would delve into the depths of knowledge known as the cellar. I don't use my computer for much. just email, pulling photos from my camera to send to the inlaws, a little surfing, visiting the cellar, and the occasional word processing. i don't game at all, don't care about having the newest and best (as i wouldn't recognize it anyway) I use Moz for all of my normal stuff, my wife has to use IE for her real estate business, so an effective popup blocker would be good. i do want to be able burn cd's and that is about it. what do i need? i don't want to be a schmo and have the salesman sell me crap i don't need. so i'm looking for a basic out of the box setup that has what i need, without all the crap that is necessary to you all, but just shiny stuff to me. oh, and what should i pay? ballpark figures of course. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

01-10-2005, 10:45 AM	#2
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	http://www.gotapex.com __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

01-10-2005, 09:49 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Excellent free pop up blocker from panicware. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-10-2005, 10:36 PM	#7
404Error Lecturer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: CT USA Posts: 826	I just bought the Dell Dimension 3000 for my parents for Christmas. They use the computer for the same reasons as you, Lookout. I did upgrade to the rewriter CD drive for them also. I did some homework when looking for a new computer for them and I think that was about as good a deal as you're going to find for what you need it for. Oh, and there's plenty of free pop up stoppers out there for the taking! __________________ "To disarm the people is the most effectual way to enslave them." ~George Mason~

01-10-2005, 10:53 PM	#8
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Well, I got the grandaddy of all cheap computers, a Compaq 1200NX with a CD burner, 40 gig drive, and 256 MB of memory. Without a monitor this cost me $199. Of course you have to spend $40 for another 256MB of memory to support a virus scanner and firewall. This baby has 4 cards slots for compactflash, smartmedia, SD, and MS cards, and fireware and USB ports. It already has an NIC card for LAN/Internet. And it had an AGP slot for my video card. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

01-10-2005, 11:26 AM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The cost of adding a DVD writer is now less than $100. Or should be - the street price for the cheapest of them is under $50.

01-11-2005, 02:01 PM	#10
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	And don't forget the pen drive. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

01-11-2005, 05:10 PM	#11
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Solution or for an all-in-one package for not much more try this No Spyware No Virii Quality Components No continual flow of shitty OS bugs and security flaws. Seamless Updating Perfect set of software. Best UI around. Comes with CD burner standard, DVD burner for +$100 __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain Last edited by jaguar; 01-11-2005 at 05:17 PM.

01-11-2005, 08:07 PM	#12
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	hi jag - how the hell are you? __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

01-12-2005, 04:10 PM	#13
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Busy, but keeping half an eye on this place. Now, go buy a mac, you'll thank me later. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

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